Fruit cleaning machine



May i, 1934. w. A. TRI-:SCOTT `FRUIT CLEANING MACHINE 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 28

N VEN TOR Wizass @0% Z5 A TTORNEY May l, 1934. w. A. TREscoTT FRUIT CLEANING MACHINE Filed Jan. 28, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IPatented May 1, 1934 UNITED STATES FRUIT CLEANING MACHINE Willis A. Trescott, Fairport, N. Y., assignor to The Trescott Company, Inc., Fairport, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application January 28, 1931, Serial No. 511,903

5 claims. 01. 14s-202) My present invention relates to machines of the continuously operating type for removing dirt and dust from and smoothing and polishing such `fruits as apples, peaches, oranges, et cetera, and it has for its object to provide a simple, inexpensive, convenient, and efficient machine of this character, that will be durable, and the parts of which will be readily accessible for cleaning and repair. The improvements are directed in part to a relative arrangement of bristle surfaces between which the fruits pass that renders them .effective in uniformly acting upon all parts of the surfaces of the latter regardless of their size and of their relative sizes. The machine is further, to a large extent, self-cleaning.

To these and other ends, the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a. side elevation of a machine constructed in accordance withk and illustrating one x embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side view of part of the driving mechanism shown in Fig.

` 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Similar reference numerals throughout the several views indicate the same parts.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 indicates generally a supporting frame having relatively deep longitudinally extending inclined side boards 2, the frame being covered at the top by a continuous cover 3 hinged at 4 to one of the side boards and cooperating .with the other, so that it can be swung up laterally to expose the i;.terior parts and carrying one set of parts with it as hereinafter described.

The side boards 2, by means of bearings 5 therein, support rotatably the cores 6 of a plurality of cylindrical bristle brushes '7 arranged as closely together as possible without touching or lightly touching each other, so that they col.- lectively constitute a substantially continuous bristle bed. The fruit is introduced into the machine from the right end, indicated at A in the figures through a canvas or similar dust flap or apron 8 and issue forth after the cleaning onto the inclined ledge 9 at the opposite end B for further treatment or disposal. The rotary brushes forming this lower bed rotate in unison counterclockwise or in the direction A to B as to their upper surfaces and lie on an incline in this direction, so that they convey the fruit received thereon on an upgrade. This prolongs the period of polishing contact of the brushes and tends to prevent crowding or jamming.

The projecting ends of the brush cores 6 at one side are fitted with sprockets 10, over all of which runs a sprocket chain 11 driven by a large sprocket l2 on a drive shaft 13 having suitable power connections. The upper and lower reaches of the chain are supported or backed by suitable guide rails 14 and 15, while an adjustable idler 16 is utilized to tighten the chain when stretched in the accustomed manner.

As the fruit is thus propelled up the grade of the lower roller bed, it is tumbled and polished from the under side. At the same time, it is cleaned and polished by a continuous upper brushing element slightly and uniformly spaced from the lower bed with a reactive contact that also prevents the fruit from progressing too swiftly. The said upper element is composed of a plurality of, in this instance,

vrectangular brush bodies 17 arranged side by side andl end to end in longitudinal and transverse rows. The bristles 18 of these brushes meet to present a continuous plane surface, as shown by the two views, Figs. 3 and 4, and yet it is a yielding surface that not only accommodates fruit vof different sizes but exerts a constant and persisting pressure against all alike. This yieldability is accomplished by gravity through hanging the brushes from the top or cover 3 by means of short chains 19 and 20, at least one of which is secured to each brush. In addition, the upper brushing surface is articulate in the direction of travel of the fruit through hinging together the proximate ends of adjoining brushes in the longitudinal rows. Thus, a single or a large fruit, in passing through, is not obliged to sustain the entire weight of the upper brushing surface but only that of a portion of one or two brushes which rock about in waves as the fruit progresses beneath them.

Alternate chains, namely the chains 20, are inclineddownwardly toward the intake or feed end A, so though the brushes are pendent, they cannot approach a horizontal position but remainA parallel to the incline of the top and the lower bed. To further prevent endwise movement and maintain the minimum separation of the upper and lower brushing surfaces, the first transverse row of brushes at the feed end A is positively supported at what would otherwise be the free ends verse row of brushes is also inclined upwardly toward the incoming fruit by means of this pivotal connection, so that they take therst impact of the fruit and provide a narrowing throat in which the fruit is guided or directed to the main brushing section.

By this arrangement of the upper brushing surface, wherein each brush rises and falls and tilts in all directions with much individual movement, the machine not only operates effectively upon fruits of all sizes but operates well upon fruits of mixed sizes, thel larger ones not being able to prevent'access of the upper brushes to the surfaces of the smaller ones. l

Also, the machine is practically self-cleaning, as the dirt removed falls through the constantly rotating lower brushes and has little tendency tc adhere to the upper brushes, which latter, however, in any event, become fully exposed and readily accessible by swinging open and to a reversed position at one side of the cover 3 from which they are hung.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a fruit cleaning machine, the combination with a frame and a top therefor, of a lower fruit conveying bed supported by the frame, a plurality of brusheshinged together at their ends, flexible elements by which the individual brushes are suspended from the top over the bed to yield bodily upwardly as well as articulate upon their hinges, and an end brush also pivoted to the rest and inclined upwardly at the feed end of the bed to form a wide receiving throat.

2. In a fruit cleaning machine, the combination with a lower fruit conveying bed, of an overlying articulated and yielding bristle element composed of a plurality of loosely depending brushes hinged together, and an end brush also pivoted at its lower end to the rest and inclined upwardly at the feed end of the bed to form a wide receiving throat, the upper end of such end brush being mounted upon a fixed pivot.

3. ln a fruit cleaning machine, the combination with a lower fruit conveying bed presenting a substantially continuous generally horizontal scouring table, of an overlying articulated and yielding bristle element spaced in parallelism thereto and presenting a surface of substantial expanse, said bristle element being composed of a plurality or 1,957,305 upon a fixed transverse pivot rod 2l. This trans-- brushes arranged in transverse and longitudinal rows forming a normally flat and continuous upper scouring surface of substantial extent opposed in parallelism to the said table, those brushes of the longitudinal rows being hinged together end to end and each of the brushes being independently loosely suspended on central lines in equilibrium to individually tilt freely laterally in both directions and yield upwardly bodily, the brushes of the transverse rows being unconnected and independent.

4. In a fruit cleaning machine,the combination with a box-like frame and a flat covering top therefor hinged thereto and adapted to be raised to completely expose the interior of the frame, of a lower fruit conveying and scouring bed supported by the frame, a plurality of brushes forming a normally flat and continuous upper scouring surface of substantial extent opposed in parallelism to the said bed, and flexible elements by which the individual brushes are suspended from the covering top over the bed to be raised and lowered with the top and to yield bodily upwardly beneath the top when the latter is lowered and the scouring surfaces are in work.

5. In a fruit cleaning machine, the combination with a box-like frame and a lower fruit conveying bed therein presenting a substantially continuous generally horizontal scouring table, of an overlying articulated and yielding bristle element spaced in parallelism thereto and presenting a surface of substantial expanse, said bristle element being composed of a plurality of brushes arranged in transverse and longitudinal rows forming a normally flat and continuous upper scouring surface of substantial extent opposed in parallelism to the said table, those brushes of the longitudinal rows being hinged together end to end, a plurality of flexible elements by means of which each of the brushes is independently loosely suspended on central lines in normal equilibrium to individually tilt freely laterally in both direct-ions' and to yield upwardly bodily, the brushes of the transverse rows being unconnected and independent, and a covering top for the frame to which all of the suspending elements are attached and by which they are carried, said top being adapted to be displaced from the frame carrying the brushes with it to fully expose thelower scouring table.

WILLIS A. '.II'RESCOTT. 125 

